I am looking for a DVD recorder to replace my VCR.

Here are my requirements.

Digital tuner for both over the air and cable QAM

Media card slot

Wound be nice but not a must: USB port to except a media card reader and USB external hard drive.

The media card reader must be able to play multi format video, AVI.. etc.
If it has a USB port it must be able to play multi format video, AVI, etc.

All the usual IN/OUT jacks for video/audio

HD should be no less than 160GB

Ken

I am looking for a DVD recorder to replace my VCR.

Here are my requirements.

Digital tuner for both over the air and cable QAM

Media card slot

Wound be nice but not a must: USB port to except a media card reader and USB external hard drive.

The media card reader must be able to play multi format video, AVI.. etc.
If it has a USB port it must be able to play multi format video, AVI, etc.

All the usual IN/OUT jacks for video/audio

HD should be no less than 160GB

Ken
First, if you're in the USA there is no recorder on the market
that meets all your requirements.
The only one that even comes close is the Philips DVDR3575H/37.
There is a thread devoted to it in here. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=830253)

Here are my requirements.

Your requirements will have no effect on what the MPAA allows to be sold in the USA. This is not a free market when it comes to recording equipment. The MPAA lawyers have to approve every model before it can be sold here. The Chinese have slipped a couple of models through in recent years that have really irritated the MPAA lawyers. As a result those lawyers aren't allowing most features that customers want. You will only find extremely crippled models for sale in the USA and that will probably get worse in the future. Don't look for much in future DVD recorders in the USA. The industry could have solved all technical issues in HD DVD recorders, years ago if they were left to do their own thing. But when a group of lawyers has to approve every single detail, that is a whole new ballgame. Your best hope is that you will probably find in the future, hard drive recorders that can't output to anything other than a TV set and has no ability to record DVD's. That should make the MPAA happy.

Dave

In other words, nothing like that exist in the US.

I can modify my request to remove the DVD recorder. My original goal was to be
able to view AVI videos using a SD card on my television.

For example, I want to watch the videos I download from the web or from my digital
camera. Most of these have been AVI files. I did see a Polaroid DVD revorder that
had a SD card slot and USB. It sells for $258 at Wallmart but the specs are not clear
on what the SD card will and USB will view for video.

KKTVRO

In that case, try the DVD Players forum here. There are DVD players that can play back lots of different formats. I don't remember AVI specifically, but I haven't been looking for it so I wouldn't remember any references.

Playing DivX/XVid avi files from SD card or USB port is a feature most people want. Unsurprisingly. few models have that feature. As far as I know there is no legal restriction, but most of the manufacturers seem to be avoiding even the slightest potential for legal problems.

One place you might look: many cheap digital photo frames with an AV out jack can play DivX/XVid files from memory cards or attached USB devices. Unfortunately they only offer composite video connection to a TV.

It's really getting annoying that we're missing out on so many great features in North America. Did you know that Panasonic TVs with SD card slots can both play and record digital HD video on SD cards in the UK - the same models as we get here, except ours have that feature deleted.

I recently received a digital photo frame and I have been using it to watch
the avi files. This particular one only offers a A/V in not out.

KKTVO

Playing DivX/XVid avi files from SD card or USB port is a feature most people want. Unsurprisingly. few models have that feature. As far as I know there is no legal restriction, but most of the manufacturers seem to be avoiding even the slightest potential for legal problems.

One place you might look: many cheap digital photo frames with an AV out jack can play DivX/XVid files from memory cards or attached USB devices. Unfortunately they only offer composite video connection to a TV.

It's really getting annoying that we're missing out on so many great features in North America. Did you know that Panasonic TVs with SD card slots can both play and record digital HD video on SD cards in the UK - the same models as we get here, except ours have that feature deleted.